The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-09-02
The Mysterious Touch.

In my researches through some old
manuscript, l recently Glanced upon
the following story. A yet l cannot
definitely fix the authorship, but my
suspicious point all IN one direction.
Should they be realized after further
investigation, | shall have no hesitanCy
in giving his name. Here is the story,
precisely as it appeared in manuscript,
which apparently has never before
seen the light:
at has long been a theory of mine
that there is a natural explanation for
every occurrence, however out of the
course of nature it may seem to the
casual observer. Acting upon this the
DRY l have devoted years to the study
of so-called experimentation. Little
has been published upon the subject
that l have not read. My library is
filed with such works as Owens Foot
falls on the Boundary of Another
World Bulwer's Strange Story Da-
Vis's Great Harmonia,' Edmonds's
'~Spiritualism,' and the writings of
Swedenborg. From the weird legends
of the Hartz Mountains to Drum
mond's Natural Law in the Spiritual
World there is little with which / am
not familiar. Anything bearing even
indirectly upon supernaturalism or the
spirit world is of interest to me.
''The study of myths, fairies, ghosts
and COLLINS is one of rare fascination.
One enjoys a skillfully-told ghost story,
even while he laughs at the idea of a
ghost Who does not experience a
thrill of interest upon reading Dick
ens's Thirteenth Juror The Signal
man, or Bulwer's The Haunted and
the Hunters'P Human nature natural
ly inclines to the love of the marvellous
and supernatural, and the rehearsal of
such tales has made certain writers
famous.
II cannot say that my. study of
experimentation has led to any definite
result. 1 have not made any remarka-
BILE discoveries, but have had some ex-
periences that mystified me. Among
them was n ofapparently an inexpli-
cable nature, which it is here my pur-
pose to relate.
II remember once, some years ago,
while seated in my study. bending over
a desk, a hand was laid upon my shout
der. 1t was my wife's custom (my late
hours bothered Laura) to rouse me at
times in this manner, and when l turn
ed in answer to the summons, it was
with the expectation of seeing her be-
hind my chair. Turning slowly about
] answered. Coming, Laura To nv
anaazement the room vas empty! | had
heard no football, no voice, but had
merely felt the touch of a hand upon
my shoulder, gentle, it is true, light, as
Laura's touch always is, but unmistaka-
hle.A Ssbeon ia a a6ze, il was NOT
fancy; l had been touched by a hand.
81 confess that upon turning around
and finding nothing, / was startled. /
sat a moment n thought, seeking to
bring the occurrence within the range
Of comprehension. My brain was clear.
every faculty active. Going to the
door, / opened it and called no the
hallway in a low voice:
"4auTa!
No answer.
II called again, my voice echoino
strangely. The hour was late. Laura
was evidently asleep.
Presumed my seat at the desk. but
could not continue writing. Nv
Thoughts. were and seattera. The
mysterious touch upon tho shoulder
filed me with strange emotions. What
explanation was there for itp No
human hand had touched me; had I
felt tho impress Of a spirit handg Ri
dIculousl / laughed outright ct the
idea. Mystifed, dissatisfied, / closed
the desk, put out the LIGHT and went IN
to my bedroom.
Lighting d lamp that stood on the
bureau, 1 looked at Laura She Law ia
sound sleep. her. calm, sweet face
partly averted / gently reused her,
had her sit up, assured myself that she
was thoroughly awake. and then
askads
laura, have you been long asleepp'
"Fully an hour, She replied, look.
ing at me wonderingiy. Has ANYTHING
happened, GeQrgeg
rare you sure there is nobody III